McCafé BYOB returns with hands on brewing sessions as crowds flock to experience the art of espresso

Beverages

November 18, 2025

McCafé has brought back its popular BYOB programme, short for Be Your Own Barista, and this year’s edition feels more immersive than ever. The idea is simple but very inviting. Coffee lovers of all kinds are encouraged to walk behind the McCafé counter and try their hand at making their own cup, guided by McCafé’s trained baristas. Instead of watching from a distance, participants get to experience the real craft that goes into every espresso shot and every silky layer of foam.

The session begins with a warm introduction to the basics of espresso pulling. Guests learn how the grind, tamp, and extraction time can completely change the character of a drink. After that, the focus shifts to milk, which many coffee fans consider the trickiest part. Getting the milk to the perfect temperature and texture takes patience and a calm wrist, but the coaches make the process feel enjoyable rather than intimidating.

Once the basics are in place, participants move on to latte art. Even a simple heart or swirl brings a sense of achievement, and that is exactly what makes BYOB special. It mixes learning with play in a setting that feels relaxed and friendly. People chat, laugh, compare attempts, and leave with a new appreciation for the effort behind the counter.

The programme is open to beginners, seasoned coffee drinkers, and anyone who enjoys trying something different. McCafé positions BYOB as a space for connection as much as education. With the rise of at home brewing, the brand seems eager to remind people that the joy of coffee also comes from shared moments, warm conversation, and the gentle thrill of creating something with your own hands.

Kaatil Unveils New Hot Barbeque Sauce, Elevating Indian Chilli Flavors

Food

SnackTeam

November 18, 2025

Kaatil is widening its footprint in India’s fast-growing hot condiments market with the launch of Hot Barbeque Sauce No. 9, a new addition to its lineup built around the country’s famed Bhoot Jolokia chilli. The release signals the brand’s intention to build deeper relevance among heat-seeking consumers and strengthen the No. 9 series, which has become its signature identity.

The new sauce brings together the sweetness and smoke of a classic barbeque profile with the sharp, lingering heat that the Bhoot Jolokia is known for. The company said it has been developed to work across the kitchen, from marinades and glazes to spreads, dips and grilling preparations, addressing the growing preference for multi-use condiments among home cooks and restaurants.

Kaatil continues to rely on locally grown Bhoot Jolokia as the backbone of its flavour architecture. According to the brand, this focus helps create products that feel rooted in Indian culinary culture while still borrowing cues from global barbeque and hot sauce formats. The result, the company noted, is a sauce that balances sweetness, smokiness and intensity without overwhelming the palate.

Founder Sagar Merchant said the new product is aimed at consumers who enjoy the depth of barbeque sauces but prefer a stronger bite. He added that the team wanted to create a heat experience that builds gradually and enhances food rather than overpowering it.

The Mumbai-based company, started in 2023 by Merchant and co-founder Arjun Panwar, now sells a growing range of hot sauces, hot ketchups and chilli oils. Kaatil has also expanded into food service, supplying its products to restaurants across the country.

The brand plans to continue building out its portfolio with more chilli-driven variants that showcase regional Indian peppers in globally familiar formats. Kaatil said its long-term goal is to position Indian chillies on the international stage and close the gap in a category dominated by Western sauces that typically use imported peppers.

Three O’Clock Café Brings Classic Vietnamese Brews to India With Gurugram Launch

Hotels & Restaurants

SnackTeam

November 18, 2025

Three O’Clock Café, one of Vietnam’s well-known coffee chains, has entered the Indian market with the launch of its first outlet at AIPL Joy Central in Gurugram. The debut marks the beginning of the brand’s planned expansion in the city, where a second café is already lined up at the AIPL Business Club.

The company is positioning its India entry around a familiar strength in Vietnam’s café culture. Its menu is built on traditional brewing styles and signature preparations that have shaped the country’s coffee identity. Visitors will find classic drip-brewed coffee along with egg coffee, coconut coffee and a range of cold brews made with beans sourced directly from Vietnam.

AIPL, the real estate group hosting the brand’s first two outlets, views the arrival of Three O’Clock Café as an opportunity to add an international flavour to Gurugram’s fast-maturing café circuit. Ishaan Singh, Director at AIPL, said the association fits the company’s attempt to build mixed-use spaces that carry cultural experiences alongside retail.

The opening drew the presence of Mr. Bui Trung Thuong, Trade Counsellor at the Embassy of Vietnam in India. He said food and beverage collaborations often deepen people-to-people connections and help both countries appreciate each other’s traditions.

Phi Van Nguyen, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Franchising and Licensing Network and Co-Founder of the café chain, described the brand’s India debut as an effort to offer a faithful version of Vietnamese coffee. She said the outlets are designed to give visitors a place to slow down and enjoy a style of coffee that relies on patience, aroma and methodical brewing rather than speed.

With two stores set to operate in Gurugram soon, Three O’Clock Café is aiming to create a niche as a cultural and culinary stop for customers who are exploring global coffee styles.

Swiggy’s Bolt Touches 10 Percent of All Orders as Quick Commerce Redefines India’s Eating Habits

Quick Commerce

SnackTeam

November 18, 2025

Swiggy’s rapid delivery arm, Bolt, has quietly become one of the strongest growth engines in the food delivery giant’s portfolio. According to Restaurant India’s report by Saptopriya Ghosal, Bolt now contributes 10 percent of all orders on the platform, marking a big shift in how urban India wants its meals and essentials delivered.

The rise of quick commerce has changed the rhythm of eating and shopping in major cities. What began with ten-minute grocery runs has now moved into meals, snacks, beverages, bakery items and late-night cravings. Swiggy has been sharpening this category by improving dark store locations, increasing fleet strength and strengthening partnerships with neighbourhood brands.

Industry trackers estimate that India’s quick commerce market has crossed more than 50 million monthly orders, and Swiggy is pushing hard to increase its share in this fast-moving space. The company is also expanding Bolt into newer pin codes where demand for instant delivery is growing faster than traditional food orders.

With competition heating up between Swiggy, Zomato and Blinkit, speed has turned into the biggest differentiator in customer decision-making. Consumers now expect their pani puri kits, cold coffees, emergency ingredients or comfort food to arrive almost immediately. This shift is influencing restaurant behaviour too. Several cloud kitchen operators have started designing menus that are easier to prepare and pack within a tight delivery window.

What stands out is how quickly customers have adopted this habit. The convenience of near-instant delivery has changed evenings, weekends and even office lunch hours. Swiggy’s Bolt touching 10 percent of all platform orders shows that quick commerce is no longer a side category. It is becoming one of the main ways India chooses to eat and shop.

India’s Pet Food War Begins as Reliance Rolls Out Waggies, Eyeing Millions of New Pet Owners and a Rapidly Expanding Market

FMCG

SnackTeam

November 18, 2025

Reliance Consumer Products is gearing up to enter India’s fast growing pet care industry with its new pet food label called Waggies. The move signals Reliance’s intent to build a strong position in yet another consumer category, this time by targeting the country’s expanding community of pet owners. The company is preparing to introduce Waggies at prices that could be twenty to fifty percent lower than the top players already in stores. This is a familiar playbook for Reliance, which has often relied on sharp pricing to quickly secure market share.

India’s pet care space has grown steadily in the last five years as more households adopt dogs and cats and choose packaged food over home cooked options. Industry trackers estimate that organised pet food sales have been rising by double digits every year, helped by rising incomes and a shift in attitudes toward pet nutrition. With Waggies, Reliance is betting that value driven pricing will appeal to first time buyers as well as long time pet parents looking for more affordable choices.

Market leaders will likely face strong pressure if Reliance launches Waggies across its wide retail network. Reliance already enjoys a deep presence through JioMart, Smart Bazaar and its other chains, giving it the ability to scale quickly. Analysts believe the entry of such a large player could spark a fresh round of competition in a category that has so far been dominated by a few global brands.

If Waggies manages to win trust on quality while keeping costs low, the pet food aisle might soon look very different from what it is today.

Reliance Retail Expands Beauty Portfolio by Introducing essence in India

Beauty

SnackTeam

November 17, 2025

Reliance Retail is expanding its beauty portfolio by bringing German cosmetics label essence to India through an exclusive distribution partnership with cosnova Beauty. The move introduces one of Europe’s highest-volume makeup brands to a market where demand for affordable, trend-driven beauty products has been rising steadily.

Reliance Retail said the launch will be backed by its full omnichannel network, making essence available on major online platforms as well as in its beauty stores and partner retail chains across the country. The company plans to scale distribution quickly to ensure that the brand reaches a broad base of customers, especially younger shoppers who look for playful, accessible makeup.

Essence, founded in 2002, sells in close to 90 countries and has built a reputation around its “Make Beauty Fun” philosophy. The company manufactures most of its products within Europe and is known for renewing almost half its collection twice each year. Along with its core lineup, the brand frequently introduces limited-run editions inspired by seasonal beauty and lifestyle trends, feeding a steady pipeline of newness that has helped it maintain high engagement in global markets.

By entering India, essence will compete in a fast-growing segment where customers increasingly expect quality formulations at everyday price points. Industry trackers note that Reliance Retail’s distribution strength gives the brand a sizable advantage as it enters a crowded category that spans domestic players, Korean beauty labels and global mass-market brands.

The company stated that the focus will be on ensuring wide availability across urban beauty destinations, with an assortment tailored for Indian consumers seeking reliable, cruelty-free and vegan makeup options. The initial rollout is expected to include face, eye, lip and nail products, with plans to expand the catalogue as the brand settles into the market.

Reliance Retail’s latest partnership reflects its broader push to establish a comprehensive beauty portfolio that spans premium, professional and mass segments, underlining the retailer’s intent to become a central player in India’s growing beauty and personal care industry.

Ranveer Singh’s SuperYou storms past Rs 150 crore in year one as India’s protein snacking race heats up

funding

SnackTeam

November 17, 2025

SuperYou, the protein snacking label founded by Ranveer Singh and Nikunj Biyani, has completed its first year in the market with an impressive Rs 150 crore in revenue. For a brand that entered store shelves only last November, the early momentum signals how quickly India’s young consumers are shifting towards convenient, high protein snacking.

The brand was launched with a simple pitch. Snacks that taste good should also do something good for the body. SuperYou chose fermented yeast protein as its hero ingredient and backed the idea with a colourful range of bars, cookies, mixes, and bite sized treats. What helped the brand break through the clutter was Singh’s active involvement in product conversations, packaging, and early marketing. Retailers who tracked the launch shared that stores in Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Delhi NCR saw the fastest movement in the protein bar line. Some modern trade partners reported sell through rates above expectations within the first quarter.

Nikunj Biyani, who leads product development, has been vocal about creating protein options that feel familiar to Indian palates. The brand introduced flavours like Choco Jaggery Crunch, Coffee Rush, Peanut Chilli Bite, and Cranberry Lift, which drew curiosity from fitness beginners and regular gym goers.

SuperYou has also grown its presence through general trade and online marketplaces. The company closed the year with more than ten million individual packs sold across formats. Industry observers note that the functional snacking space in India is heating up as more consumers reach for healthier on the go options.

With a strong debut year behind it, SuperYou plans to add new categories and expand aggressively across Tier Two and Tier Three cities.

The Most Surprising Findings from Fireside Ventures’ Bharat 2030 Report and Why Brands Should Pay Attention Now

funding

SnackTeam

November 17, 2025

Image-of-Fireside-Venture — The Most Surprising Findings from Fireside Ventures’ Bharat 2030 Report and Why Brands Should Pay Attention Now

India’s next consumption surge is quietly forming outside big metros, and the new Bharat 2030 report by Fireside Ventures offers one of the clearest views of this shift. The study tracks more than 150 million households across Bharat, revealing how their aspirations now mirror those of urban India, even though access still lags in many regions.

A teenager in Bhopal follows the same influencers as someone in Bandra, but the road to buying the same brands is not as smooth. Tier One cities already enjoy modern retail and easy discovery of new products. India II still deals with limited distribution, patchy availability of emerging brands, and a strong pull toward familiar, older choices.

The report highlights how household dynamics shape consumption. Working women in India II are taking on more control of daily purchases. In homes where families live with parents, buying habits still reflect the preferences of the older generation, which keeps traditional and safer brands in demand. Faith, community validation and local customs continue to influence what people choose and trust.

Fireside Ventures also maps the country’s deep regional differences. The South is quicker to adopt new categories, especially beauty and emerging brands. The North and West continue to lean toward mass brands, while the Northeast shows a completely different pattern driven by cash economies and strong cultural triggers.

The report also highlights the deep cultural and regional variations that shape spending. The South adopts new brands faster, the North and West remain loyal to mainstream choices, and the Northeast follows its own pattern guided by cash economies and cultural cues.

Fireside Ventures expects India II to add more than 100 million new brand ready consumers by 2030, creating one of the decade’s biggest growth opportunities.

Sofía Vergara Becomes Skechers Ambassador After Discovering Brand Herself

SnackTeam

November 17, 2025

Sofía Vergara has signed on as the newest global ambassador for Skechers, giving the footwear company another high-profile name to front its expanding lifestyle portfolio. The partnership arrives as Skechers intensifies its push into comfort-led casual footwear across international markets, a segment that continues to outpace broader fashion categories.

The collaboration unfolded in a way that the company describes as refreshingly organic. Vergara first encountered the brand not in a boardroom but while recovering from knee surgery, a period during which she was looking for shoes that would reduce pressure on her joints. During a routine visit to a shopping mall, she tried on a pair from Skechers’ comfort range and ended up buying several more. Only later did she learn that her management team had already been in early discussions with the company.

Skechers said Vergara’s experience with its technology made her a natural fit for the role, as the brand sharpens its messaging around ease of wear and design innovation. Her first assignment will be a global campaign showcasing the company’s Hands Free Slip-ins Glide-Step collection, a franchise built on features that help users slide into their shoes without bending or pulling. The line has been one of the brand’s strongest performers in the past two years, particularly in North America and parts of Asia where convenience-focused footwear continues to gain traction.

The new campaign will roll out across television, digital channels and in-store displays over the next few weeks. Skechers has previously partnered with names such as Martha Stewart, Snoop Dogg and Amanda Kloots, signaling its continued appetite for celebrity-driven storytelling.

For Skechers, the company’s bet is that Vergara’s broad international appeal and personal experience with the product will help strengthen its connection with consumers seeking comfort without giving up style.

FirstCry Sees Improved Profit Metrics and 11 Percent GMV Rise in Q2

Growth

SnackTeam

November 17, 2025

FirstCry reported a smaller quarterly loss in the September period as the kidswear and parenting retailer continued to strengthen its revenue base across both online and store networks.

The company posted a net loss of Rs 50.5 crore for Q2 FY26, an improvement from Rs 62.9 crore in the same quarter last year. The performance also marked a sequential recovery, with the loss narrowing from Rs 66.5 crore in the June quarter. The top line remained steady through the period, with revenue from operations rising 10 percent year on year to Rs 2,099.1 crore. When other income of Rs 38.2 crore is added, total income reached Rs 2,137.3 crore. Expenses also grew 10 percent to Rs 2,036.9 crore.

The company’s operational strength showed through its adjusted EBITDA, which rose 51 percent year on year to Rs 120.8 crore. FirstCry reported GMV of Rs 2,819.2 crore for the quarter, reflecting an 11 percent rise. Its unique transacting customer base expanded at a similar pace and reached about 1.1 crore.

Brainbees Solutions, the parent of FirstCry, said that product sales across its India and international businesses accounted for 77 percent of operating revenue. GlobalBees, the company’s roll up brand arm, contributed Rs 493 crore to the consolidated figure.

Procurement remained the biggest cost centre, touching Rs 1,329 crore and accounting for 61 percent of total spending. Employee costs rose to Rs 203 crore, which included Rs 59 crore under ESOP charges. Marketing, technology, legal and rental costs pushed overall expenditure to Rs 2,175 crore.

In the India multi channel division, revenue rose 8 percent year on year to Rs 1,381.1 crore and segment profit climbed 26 percent to Rs 58.2 crore. Orders crossed the one crore mark during the quarter.

The company’s international unit posted revenue of Rs 235.7 crore, up 13 percent from last year, while losses narrowed to Rs 24.4 crore. FirstCry also opened its first fully owned store in Saudi Arabia.

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